After a Trinamool MP’s claim of a weapons cache, the Bengal Governor has ordered a thorough sweep of Raj Bhavan.
“The Trinamool and BJP are preparing for a high-stakes clash in next year’s Assembly elections, with the BJP aiming once again to dislodge the Trinamool from power.”
New Delhi:
Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose on Monday led a team of Kolkata Police and central security forces to search Raj Bhavan following allegations made by Trinamool MP Kalyan Banerjee. Banerjee had alleged that “criminals” affiliated with the Bharatiya Janata Party were being sheltered at the Governor’s official residence and that arms and ammunition were being stockpiled there.
Speaking to NDTV after the operation—which involved bomb squads and sniffer dogs inspecting parts of Raj Bhavan and found no contraband—Bose said, “The comments by MP Kalyan Banerjee are outrageous, malicious, obnoxious, and baseless. I have observed a tendency among politicians in Bengal to make wild allegations, assuming no action will be taken.”
He added, “If what Banerjee said were true, appropriate action would be necessary. If false, a different course must be taken. To clarify the matter publicly, I ordered an operation by state and central authorities. Nothing was found.”
Bose further stated, “It is thus clear that the MP made false allegations…” and warned the Trinamool leader of “very strong action” against him.
Officials told PTI that Bose cut short a trip to the northern districts to oversee the search, which began at 2:15 pm from the ground floor of the evacuated Raj Bhavan. They also confirmed that personnel were deployed at the police outpost within the Raj Bhavan grounds.
Banerjee had made his allegations on Saturday, hours after Bose addressed the controversial special intensive revision of electoral rolls ordered in Bengal ahead of next year’s Assembly elections.
